State Capitol News

3:04 pm

Mon January 3, 2011

Brewer Begins Second Term as Governor

Phoenix, AZ – In taking the oath of office, the governor noted that this time,she was actually elected rather than inheriting the post afterJanet Napolitano quit two years ago to take a job in the Obamaadministration. Brewer pronounced herself a fortunate woman.

(But there's an unfinished task ahead of me. When I took the oathof office two years I took the helm of a marvelous state that hadbeen poorly commanded, badly navigated and was dead in thewater.)

Brewer said she inherited a budget deficit of $5 billion over twofiscal years plus unfair and expensive federal mandates.

(But I did what my mother taught me. I did not give up. I did notgive in. I fought for what I knew was the right thing to do.)

Brewer detailed extensive budget cuts, arguing they did not hurteducation or public safety. And the governor said her plans toestablish a commerce authority will help grow the economy. HouseMinority Leader Chad Campbell said the speech was filled with toomuch blame.

(There wasn't a lot of detail, a lot of planning for how we'regoing to move forward. And I think we need to stop looking in thepast. We need to figure out how we're going to get the state backon track. And I hope that the governor and Republican leadershiphas a plan.)

Brewer gives her state of the state speech this coming Monday.For Arizona Public Radio this is Howard Fischer.